.177 Pellets for hunting

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

what ranges are reasonable to make quick and clean work of Squirrel-dove-chipmunks?

for 10.3,13.4 even 15.9/16gr. ive taken squirrel close to 90y with 15.9 pellets in .22 but the additional frontal surface area does make a difference, does it not?

I probably don't even need to ask this: will a .177 15.9gr hitting a pigeon at 900fps be as effective as a .22 in the same exact weight?

 

[Spike_9]

I am really loving the HN 16 grain slugs. They really pack a punch at 900 FPS and retain their energy well at 100. My 177 has been more effective at dispatching pest than my .22 at the same energy.

 

[shambozzie]

Loving the nsa 12.5 @ 950 fps. 16 fpe retained @ 100 yds . Starling hate it.

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

Loving the nsa 12.5 @ 950 fps. 16 fpe retained @ 100 yds . Starling hate it.

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I was recently forced to find more places to shoot. Since my bastard 'neighbor" Interfered in my life. One of the ones I have the most access to, I cannot risk shooting things out of trees and have one of my 13-15gr slugs miss.. the energy/velocity retention of slugs is fantastic and use them whenever I can.

Are the monsters and Beasts still capable of dropping squirrels and doves out to 100? Is the best policy 75-80 and in
Nice RTI P series.

I'm using another Slavic lead slinger. Katran L

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

That's vk 13.5 @ 940.

Things explode on contact, essentially.

23-25 is kinda the limit on 13.43 pellets. Anything over 930 I'll start seeing the spiraling

 

[Peashooter]

Not long ago i dropped a pheasant at 75 M with a 10 grain JSB KO MK3 slug, its 2 friends feet from it did not even flinch, they left a few minutes later strolling into the tall grass.
Also with a rifle from that side of the world, my trusty Epic airguns Two

 

[shambozzie]

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That's vk 13.5 @ 940.

Things explode on contact, essentially.

23-25 is kinda the limit on 13.43 pellets. Anything over 930 I'll start seeing the spiraling

The monsters are fine @ 100 also.

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

Not long ago i dropped a pheasant at 75 M with a 10 grain JSB KO MK3 slug, its 2 friends feet from it did not even flinch, they left a few minutes later strolling into the tall grass.
Also with a rifle from that side of the world, my trusty Epic airguns Two

Slugs I have no doubts. The avenger and hatsan I recently sold ended a good many starlings with mk3 10.03s.

I'm just curious about metal on meat experience with monsters and Beasts. The reduced frontal area and lower bc. Does a 15.9 .177 at 100 do what a 15.9 .22 will?

MK 3 ko and varmint Knocker slugs are force multipliers. They DO instantly expand reliably and cause for more trauma than is typical of the caliber

 

[JimD]

I only have one 177, a P35. It likes H&N Baracuda Match pellets and H&N Baracuda FT pellets. It seems to shoot NSA 12.5 grain slugs decently too but I need to do more testing on them and probably increase the velocity. I shoot the FTs at about 915 fps and the Match at about 885 fps. The longest shot I've taken on a squirrel was 37 yards. It dropped at impact.

At the same fpe, a 177 will penetrate deeper than a 22. An expanding projectile will penetrate less. I often have squirrels take a few steps after impact of a domed 177 but I have not lost any with a chest shot (lost one I shot in the rear). 22s and 25s at twice the fpe drop them faster unless I hit them right in the front of the chest with the shot traveling lengthwise through the squirrel. I did that twice with my P35-25 and both squirrels ran more than any of the 24 I've killed with my P35-177. But normally the bigger hole of the 22 and 25 seem to drop them quicker.

The biggest thing I would worry about on long shots is connecting. I find 177s VERY wind sensitive. I think 50 yards is a more sensible limit.

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

I only have one 177, a P35. It likes H&N Baracuda Match pellets and H&N Baracuda FT pellets. It seems to shoot NSA 12.5 grain slugs decently too but I need to do more testing on them and probably increase the velocity. I shoot the FTs at about 915 fps and the Match at about 885 fps. The longest shot I've taken on a squirrel was 37 yards. It dropped at impact.

At the same fpe, a 177 will penetrate deeper than a 22. An expanding projectile will penetrate less. I often have squirrels take a few steps after impact of a domed 177 but I have not lost any with a chest shot (lost one I shot in the rear). 22s and 25s at twice the fpe drop them faster unless I hit them right in the front of the chest with the shot traveling lengthwise through the squirrel. I did that twice with my P35-25 and both squirrels ran more than any of the 24 I've killed with my P35-177. But normally the bigger hole of the 22 and 25 seem to drop them quicker.

The biggest thing I would worry about on long shots is connecting. I find 177s VERY wind sensitive. I think 50 yards is a more sensible limit.

This is what im looking for.

This katran eats up the 4.50-4.52 cuda match... In fact I've not shot a .177 that doesn't like them yet. But, Im trying to buck the wind as much as possible. Hence favoring the 13.4 and 16gr pellets, planning to shoot 13.4 in prime weather, this gun is a scalpel with them , and Beasts in breezy conditions. Where not prohibited I'm shooting varmint knockers exclusively. I've shot a squirrel close in with the B'Cuda match at 921fps and it definitely was DRT. Kinda hard not to when they're facing you at 25y and you put it directly beween their ears on a head down frontal shot. That bcuda match's head was FLATTENED an impressive amount.

Edit. Here.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have killed a ton of squirrels and chippies with .177 around 800 fps. But pigeons are tough. Unless it's head, neck, or spine they seem to live and fly a bit even with a solid body shot. Something to be aware of if urban pasting.

 

[Peashooter]

Someone i know have shot at seagulls with a .22 PCP, using 15 - 18 grain JSB pellets, and seen the pellet just bounce off the damn things ( nesting on a nearby factory roof )
This was also at a 40 - 50 M distance.

Mind you some times they did not bounce, so the bird would still take off but crash within 10 - 50 M of the roof it was on, so in other peoples gardens ASO.
People did not mind though CUZ these birds was a nuisance to everyone in the area.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

From what I have learned about the beasts, they need to be shot really fast, say around 960fps or faster to stay stable. I've tried them in the impact, 2 hatsans long/standard. Never had great success with them past 40-50yds before spiraling. But that could've just been due to tuning as that was years ago.

 

[Elbowgrease]

I really need to get another .177. Everything I have at the moment is .22 and .30. I had a Leshiy classic that was set up as .177 shooting the 13 grain JSBs very well. That thing would slap pigeons so hard out to 70ish yards. Out of all of the edguns I had that is the one I wish I had kept. Loved that little thing. Actually, just picked up a Mordax .22 to in a way replace it. Wish they came in .177.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

I really need to get another .177. Everything I have at the moment is .22 and .30. I had a Leshiy classic that was set up as .177 shooting the 13 grain JSBs very well. That thing would slap pigeons so hard out to 70ish yards. Out of all of the edguns I had that is the one I wish I had kept. Loved that little thing. Actually, just picked up a Mordax .22 to in a way replace it. Wish they came in .177.

Those LC are phenomenal, had 3 of them, they are robust beasts and they are awesome .177 pcps!

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

From what I have learned about the beasts, they need to be shot really fast, say around 960fps or faster to stay stable. I've tried them in the impact, 2 hatsans long/standard. Never had great success with them past 40-50yds before spiraling. But that could've just been due to tuning as that was years ago.

That's a shame. I'm not trying to use that much air per shot, or be at the pressure required to push 16s at 960. I like the balance of power and efficiency 13.43 pellets at 940-950 and the slugs at 920-930 offers

It's odd, I've taken plenty at distance with .177, and I've NEVER even tried shooting at anything live with pellets past 65.

That pair of hatsan barrels, their rifling has dome serious bite... Never had anything destabilize with them. If those are the long and short youre talking about.

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

I really need to get another .177. Everything I have at the moment is .22 and .30. I had a Leshiy classic that was set up as .177 shooting the 13 grain JSBs very well. That thing would slap pigeons so hard out to 70ish yards. Out of all of the edguns I had that is the one I wish I had kept. Loved that little thing. Actually, just picked up a Mordax .22 to in a way replace it. Wish they came in .177.

That gun has always struck me as very ugly. At the same time it appeals to me because of the compact size and the fact you can fold it in half and just stow. If only there was a way to shoot it as a pistol too, would be the perfect gun.

 

[JaceSpace1369]

That's a shame. I'm not trying to use that much air per shot, or be at the pressure required to push 16s at 960. I like the balance of power and efficiency 13.43 pellets at 940-950 and the slugs at 920-930 offers

It's odd, I've taken plenty at distance with .177, and I've NEVER even tried shooting at anything live with pellets past 65.

That pair of hatsan barrels, their rifling has dome serious bite... Never had anything destabilize with them. If those are the long and short youre talking about.

The short barrel that I tried on there was the one that it came with originally, which had an issue. But the long one wasn't really working with them either.

 

[Motorhead]

From what I have learned about the beasts, they need to be shot really fast, say around 960fps or faster to stay stable. I've tried them in the impact, 2 hatsans long/standard. Never had great success with them past 40-50yds before spiraling. But that could've just been due to tuning as that was years ago.

Indeed, when shooting those long guys 950 to 1020 they do very well, tho will state pesting accuracy at 100y is sketchy at best.
Now 15 grain NSA's at 1020 the 100 yard game if needed there a much better choice.

 

[RabbitofCaerbannog]

Indeed, when shooting those long guys 950 to 1020 they do very well, tho will state pesting accuracy at 100y is sketchy at best.
Now 15 grain NSA's at 1020 the 100 yard game if needed there a much better choice.

Why are .177 able to endure such higher velocities without going to hell from gyroscopic procession? Are these heavy cylindricals more dependant on spin stabilization rather than the shuttlcock effect of being front heavy?

If I'm going to have to raise pressure that high and expend that much air for just acceptable axcuracy, not worth it. Simple answer is, where I must use pellets, close the envelope a bit..
As far as 15-16 gr slugs, I'll learn how this new to me gun handles those, but I do not plan on pushing them out to nearly 1k